I dove in and bought a Bianchi Pista this morning. Beautiful bike, dig the oldschool chrome and decals on these 05 models. It's going to be my commuter/fitness bike (roads are flat around here).

Picked up a $10 Tektro CX lever and slapped on an old front brake I had laying around.

I prefer bullhorns over the drops, but I will give these a try before deciding to switch over to the horns. Keeping it 48/16 for now. I'll install a freewheel, but will see how I do with the 16t first and take it from there.

Let the good times roll....

I dove in and bought a Bianchi Pista this morning. Beautiful bike, dig the oldschool chrome and decals on these 05 models. It's going to be my commuter/fitness bike (roads are flat around here).

Picked up a $10 Tektro CX lever and slapped on an old front brake I had laying around.

I prefer bullhorns over the drops, but I will give these a try before deciding to switch over to the horns. Keeping it 48/16 for now. I'll install a freewheel, but will see how I do with the 16t first and take it from there.

Let the good times roll....

Oooooo, I want pictures!! I love those new 05' panels. May I ask how much you paid for it and how much it weighs stock?

Oooooo, I want pictures!! I love those new 05' panels. May I ask how much you paid for it and how much it weighs stock?

I paid $489 for mine before taxes.

I haven't weighed the bike yet, but I'll hang it on the shop scale this weekend and see.

I'll post some pics this weekend. I installed a CX lever and Ultegra front brake. My original plan was to just install an old brake, but once I saw how strong the newer dual pivot calipers were, I had to get a new one consider it's the only brake on the bike.

Pics don't do this bike justice though. Chrome is tough to photograph to show it's in-person beauty.

I am going on a 20 mile nite ride tonite. Will post pics.

How's the ride on that thing? I've ridden a couple of bikes made from 520 - one, a LeMond Nevada City, I did not like at all...too bouncy for me, plus it had Sora components. But the second, I ended up purchasing, an '03 Jamis Ventura. It's such a great riding bike...not as nice as 631 or 853, and a little heavier, but it's just a good simple frame.

How's the ride on that thing?....

I like the ride on the Pista. Very smooth. I used to ride a Breezer Venturi with light Ritchey steel tubes and a beater Centurion lugged Tange tubeset ride. So those are my basis of comparions.

It's got quick handling geometry, which I like.

I rode approx 20 miles today up and down the windy Santa Monica and Malibu coast today and had a great time on the bike. 48/16 is fine for the flats.